Thursday, 26 February 2015

Poplar Inn, Vernon Street - Kent Street

The Poplar Inn was
situated at 74 Kent Street, but it was on the corner of Vernon Street and at
times its address was given as 82 or 84 Vernon Street.

The first mention of
the pub comes in the 1871 Bolton Directory when it was being run by Robert
Lyne. But in the census return of that year Robert is said to be an iron turner
so it is likely that the pub was being run by his wife, Mary Ann. Both Robert
and Mary Ann came from families with connections with the licensed trade.
Robert’s father was Peter Lyne, who ran the Rainforth Hotel on nearby School
Hill. Mary Ann’s father, Thomas Suttle, had been a brewer. The couple later went
on to run the Duke Of Connaught on Mill Street.

The Poplar Inn was
taken over Winfield’s Silverwell brewery on Nelson Square in the 1890s. Brewery
takeovers ensured the pub’s ownership changed at regular intervals over the
years. Wingfield’s sold out to the Manchester Brewery Company in 1899. MBC were
bought out by Salford-based Walker and Homfray’s in 1912 and finally Wilson’s
took over Walker and Homfray’s in 1949.

The Poplar was a Wilson’s
pub when it closed around 1970. The building remained empty for a few years
before being demolished. New housing was built on the site in the
early-eighties.

Vernon Street, pictured in September 2014 (copyright Google Street View). The Poplar was situated on the corner of Kent Street and Vernon Street. Part of Kent Street still exists, but at the opposite end to where the Poplar Inn was. Pleasant Gardens - seen here going off to the right - was built at the Vernon Street end. The Poplar was on the far corner as we look.